Find out more about our amazing organisation

Our Trust offer

This gives a flavour of the support that schools benefit from when they join South Bank MAT.

It is not an exhaustive list and the support we offer is constantly evolving and developing.

Dedicated leadership and support from the CEO, an experienced National Leader of Education
Comprehensive school improvement support from a Director of School Improvement, Director of SEND and Safeguarding, Director of Personal Development and School Improvement Partner
Strategic and operational support for all aspects of school improvement, including:
– teaching and learning
– SEND provision and EHCP
– personal development
– attendance
– safeguarding
– curriculum offer; both academic and wider curriculum
– behaviour and attitudes
‘South Bank Development’ – our holistic staff development programme for colleagues at all levels including an annual trust conference, senior and middle leadership development
Head Teacher/Heads of School leadership support
Weekly Headteacher meetings and sharing practice
Trust development plan and support with school development plans
School improvement and self-review / quality assurance
Leadership coaching
Development of Senior and Middle leaders
Establishing vision and values alongside culture and ethos.
Reading strategy to create and enhance a culture of reading across the curriculum
Specific and specialist support for schools judged to be RI/inadequate
Inspection preparation and support during the inspection process
Regular trust-wide curriculum development and planning days to develop the curriculum and share best practice
Trust teaching model
Regular School Business Team meetings and sharing practice

Dedicated finance support from an experienced Chief Finance Officer
Compliance with financial academies handbook and master funding agreement
Curriculum Led Financial Planning
Budget setting and approval
Provision of management accounts
Cashflow management
KPI and budget analysis
Finance transaction processing
Contract management
Payroll management
Pay statements
Pension reporting
Internal and external audit
Completion of 3 year financial forecast
Year-end accounts
Education and Skills Funding Agency communication and compliance
Service level agreements management and delivery
Procurement and value for money support
Fraud management
Debtor management
CPD for all staff involved with finance
Strategic benchmarking
Monthly cash flow forecasting
Attendance and presentation of finance reports at LGB and board meetings
VAT reports and reclaiming of VAT
Liaison with HMRC
Assistance with income streams e.g. Nursery funds, LAC, SEND etc.
Regular budget review meetings with Head Teachers/Heads of Schools
All finance policies produced for adoption
Updates and advice on local and national funding issues
Advice on best practice in procurement and obtaining and evidencing value for money
Regular contract reviews

Dedicated support with all aspects of estates and health and safety from an experienced Director of Estates
Risk assessments
Premises management
Contract management
Assistance with risk register
Business continuity plan
Accessibility plan
Estates strategy
Land and building collection return
Planned preventative maintenance
Project Management
Energy efficiency
Compliance with health and safety law and other relevant laws and regulations
Emergency Planning
Asset management planning
Strategic estates planning
Access to estates and compliance tool

Dedicated HR support from an experienced HR Director
Management of recruitment processes, from advertising to appointment and all pre-employment checks
Maintenance of single central records
Support with staff absence management and attendance
Support with disciplinary, conduct and capability processes and meetings
Trade union consultation and negotiation, and attendance at meetings with trade union representatives
Support with contracts of employment and variations
Advice and support on terms and conditions of employment, in particular STPCD, the ‘Burgundy Book’ and the ‘Green Book’
Provision of example job descriptions and person specifications
Support the Governors and Directors with performance management
Support with workforce planning and staffing reorganisations
All HR policies provided for adoption
Advice and support with employment guidance and changes in legislation
Support and attendance at HR meetings with employees
Storage and maintenance of employee records
Occupational health service

Clerking of Governors’ meetings
Support with governance policies and processes including Terms of Reference and Scheme of Delegation
Support with recruitment of new Governors
Access to an extensive training programme for all Governors

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to discuss joining our family of schools, please contact Zoë French, Director of Trust Services & Executive Assistant to the CEO, and we will arrange to meet with you to discuss this further.

We are also able to offer aspects of this high-quality support to schools who are not part of South Bank MAT. If this is something you feel you may be interested in, please contact Zoë French, Director of Trust Services & Executive Assistant to the CEO.